{
  "dataset": "Operating context — sanctions, air access and headline figures",
  "last_reviewed": "2026-08-15",
  "verification_note": "Sanctions information is a factual summary of published measures and is not legal advice. Confirm current obligations with qualified counsel and the relevant authority (OFAC, the EU Council, OFSI) before transacting.",
  "headline_stats": [
    {
      "value": "7M+",
      "label": "travellers across Syria's land borders",
      "sub": "First half of 2026",
      "source": { "label": "SANA", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/syria/2335480/" }
    },
    {
      "value": "+59%",
      "label": "rail freight growth",
      "sub": "663,479 t Jan–Jul 2026 vs 417,859 t in 2025",
      "source": { "label": "SANA", "url": "https://sana.sy/en/economic/2336191/" }
    },
    {
      "value": "$1B+",
      "label": "committed port investment",
      "sub": "€200m Latakia (CMA CGM) + $800m Tartous (DP World)",
      "source": { "label": "DP World", "url": "https://www.dpworld.com/en/news/dp-world-to-develop-syrias-tartus-port-under-landmark-30-year-deal" }
    },
    {
      "value": "8",
      "label": "crossings confirmed operational",
      "sub": "Türkiye, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, 9 March 2026",
      "source": { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster", "url": "https://logcluster.org/en/alerts/syria-border-crossings-airports-and-ports-updates-9-march-2026" }
    }
  ],
  "sanctions": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "European Union",
      "status": "Economic sanctions lifted",
      "date": "May 2025",
      "detail": "The Council adopted legal acts lifting economic sanctions on Syria in May 2025 to support the country's transition, socio-economic recovery and reconstruction, and terminated the partial suspension of the EU–Syria cooperation agreement. In May 2026 the Council renewed restrictive measures targeting the former al-Assad regime for a further year and de-listed certain entities — the country-wide economic regime and the residual targeted regime are distinct.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Council of the EU — legal acts lifting economic sanctions", "url": "https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/05/28/syria-eu-adopts-legal-acts-to-lift-economic-sanctions-on-syria-enacting-recent-political-agreement/" },
        { "label": "Council of the EU — May 2026 renewal and de-listings", "url": "https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/05/18/syria-council-renews-restrictive-measures-targeting-the-former-al-assad-regime-for-one-year-and-de-lists-certain-entities/" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "United States",
      "status": "Caesar Act repealed; comprehensive sanctions terminated; targeted measures and SST designation remain",
      "date": "December 2025 (repeal) · June 2025 (EO 14312)",
      "detail": "Relief came in phases: General License 24 in January 2025, General License 25 in May 2025, a 180-day Caesar Act suspension in May 2025, Executive Order 14312 in June 2025 directing agencies to lift sanctions and export controls, a second 180-day suspension in November 2025, and finally full repeal of the Caesar Act in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2026 in December 2025. Non-U.S. persons are no longer exposed to U.S. secondary sanctions purely for legitimate business with Syria. However, targeted designations remain in force against specific actors, and Syria remains designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Certain export controls also remain.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Curtis — U.S. repeals the Caesar Act", "url": "https://www.curtis.com/our-firm/news/u-s-repeals-the-caesar-act-in-latest-move-to-ease-syria-sanctions" },
        { "label": "OFAC — Syria-related sanctions", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information/syria-related-sanctions" },
        { "label": "Holland & Knight — Executive Order terminates Syria sanctions", "url": "https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/executive-order-terminates-syria-sanctions" },
        { "label": "Sidley — Syria sanctions rollback: U.S., UK and EU updates", "url": "https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2025/07/syria-sanctions-rollback-us-uk-and-eu-updates-in-a-global-context" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom",
      "status": "Substantially eased",
      "date": "2025–2026",
      "detail": "The UK has progressively eased its Syria regime in parallel with the EU and US, most recently via the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. Confirm the current position against the consolidated list before transacting.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/436/made" },
        { "label": "White & Case — status update on EU and UK easing", "url": "https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/status-update-eu-and-uk-easing-sanctions-syria" }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "air": [
    {
      "name": "Damascus International Airport",
      "iata": "DAM",
      "status": "Volatile — reduced and disrupted schedule",
      "detail": "Syrian civil aviation authorities announced on 8 April 2026 that the airport was back to regular service with all previously closed corridors reopened. That recovery was interrupted in early June 2026 by renewed regional tensions, after which several services restarted in April and May were re-suspended. EASA has advised operators not to fly in the Damascus FIR at any altitude. The UN Logistics Cluster listed the airport as temporarily closed in its 9 March 2026 update. Confirm directly with the carrier before planning airfreight.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster access update, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://logcluster.org/en/alerts/syria-border-crossings-airports-and-ports-updates-9-march-2026" },
        { "label": "Wego — Is Damascus Airport open? (June 2026 update)", "url": "https://blog.wego.com/is-damascus-airport-open/" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Aleppo International Airport",
      "iata": "ALP",
      "status": "Partially operational",
      "detail": "Partially operational with routes to Riyadh, Istanbul and Jeddah via Mediterranean corridors, per the UN Logistics Cluster update of 9 March 2026.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster access update, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://logcluster.org/en/alerts/syria-border-crossings-airports-and-ports-updates-9-march-2026" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Qamishli Airport",
      "iata": "KAC",
      "status": "Closed",
      "detail": "Listed as closed in the UN Logistics Cluster update of 9 March 2026.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster access update, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://logcluster.org/en/alerts/syria-border-crossings-airports-and-ports-updates-9-march-2026" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Deir ez-Zor Airport",
      "iata": "DEZ",
      "status": "Reopening reported",
      "detail": "Listed as closed in the UN Logistics Cluster update of 9 March 2026; subsequent reporting indicates the airport reopened with Kuwaiti services resuming to Syria. Verify before planning.",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "UN Logistics Cluster access update, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://logcluster.org/en/alerts/syria-border-crossings-airports-and-ports-updates-9-march-2026" }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "corridors": [
    {
      "id": "north-south",
      "name": "The M5 North–South Corridor",
      "route": "Bab al-Salameh / Bab al-Hawa → Aleppo → Hama → Homs → Damascus → Nassib → Amman → Gulf",
      "length": "≈450 km within Syria",
      "why": "The only continuous overland route linking Turkish manufacturing to the Jordanian, Saudi and Gulf markets. Every Türkiye-to-Gulf truck movement uses it.",
      "status": "Operational; under rehabilitation"
    },
    {
      "id": "east-west",
      "name": "The Euphrates East–West Corridor",
      "route": "Baghdad → Al-Qa'im / Abu Kamal → Deir ez-Zor → Homs → Tartous / Baniyas / Latakia",
      "length": "≈650 km within Syria",
      "why": "Gives landlocked Iraqi cargo — and, if the pipeline is revived, Iraqi crude — a Mediterranean outlet that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.",
      "status": "Crossing open; corridor infrastructure partially rehabilitated"
    },
    {
      "id": "coastal-lebanon",
      "name": "The Coastal & Lebanon Corridor",
      "route": "Latakia / Tartous ↔ Homs ↔ Jousiyeh / Al-Qaa ↔ Tripoli; and Damascus ↔ Al-Masnaa ↔ Beirut",
      "length": "Beirut is ≈100 km from Damascus by road",
      "why": "Adds two established Lebanese deepwater ports to Syria's own two, and shortens the sea-to-capital haul for Damascus considerably.",
      "status": "Al-Masnaa and Jousiyeh operational 24/7; Al-Arida restricted to one-way pedestrian traffic"
    },
    {
      "id": "northeast",
      "name": "The Jazira North-East Corridor",
      "route": "Erbil / Duhok → Semalka / Fishkhabour → Qamishli → Hasakah → Aleppo",
      "length": "≈400 km within Syria",
      "why": "The supply line for north-east Syria and the shortest route between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Syrian Mediterranean.",
      "status": "Semalka open; capacity constrained by the floating-bridge configuration"
    }
  ]
}